The Department of Conservation has moved to restrict cellphone use by staff as part of its drive to save money.
In the past, DoC has issued up to 800 cellphones to workers at a cost of $400,000 a year.
A DoC spokesperson, Rory Newsam, says department managers have been asked to withdraw phones where they are not needed for work or staff safety.
He says field staff use vehicles equipped with radios, but cellphones will still be issued to staff in emergency roles, or where radio coverage is unreliable.
Mr Newsam says restricting cellphone use will save about $80,000 a year.
